(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Thursday.
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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
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Renewi PLC, up 17% at 54.00 pence, 12-month range 17.66p-54.9p - hitting this 52-week high earlier on Thursday. The waste-to-product business says it has continued to perform well in the fourth quarter, driven by a strong performance in its core Commercial Division. Given this, group underlying earnings before interest and tax for the financial year ending March 31 is now expected to be significantly ahead of its previous expectations at around EUR68 million.
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BATM Advanced Communications Ltd, up 8.7% at 101.99p, 12-month range 30p-150.5p. The laboratory diagnostic equipment distributor launches a new molecular diagnostics kit that uses self-collected saliva samples to test for SARS-CoV-2. "This significantly improves the sample collection process compared with existing swabbing methods while, as an RT-PCR test, maintaining diagnostic accuracy," BATM explains, adding it has started taking orders and expects to begin delivering the kit in April.
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Volution Group PLC, up 8.4% at 340.25p, 12-month range 122.46p-346p - hitting this high earlier on Thursday. The ventilation products supplier reports revenue of GBP131.7 million in the half-year to January 31, up 11% on GBP118.8 million a year ago. Pretax profit improves 19% to GBP14.2 million and firm declares interim dividend per share of 1.90p, versus nothing a year ago. Adds that earnings for full-year are expected to be ahead of current market expectations.
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Go-Ahead Group PLC, up 6.2% at 1,363p, 12-month range 390.2-1,718p. The public transport operator reports revenue of GBP2.07 billion for half-year to January 2, up 3.1% on a year ago, though pretax profit halved to GBP24.6 million from GBP49.0 million. Says pandemic challenges dominated the first half of its financial year, but the second half has started with a "more positive outlook" and the introduction of a mass vaccination programme. "Our business remains in a strong position. Our financial performance has been resilient, and our full year expectations have increased as a result of stronger profitability in our London & International division," company says.
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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
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Galliford Try Holdings PLC, down 2.2% at 136.82p, 12-month range 70p-167.06p. The construction firm went ex-dividend on Thursday, meaning new buyers no longer qualify for the latest payout.
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By Lucy Heming;Â lucyheming@alliancenews.com
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Volution Group PLS (FAN)
Galliford Try (GFRD)
Batm Advanced (BVC)
Renewi Plc (RWI)